16.12.08

praise Him in the storm...

there's a storm a brewin' all around me it seems...the winds are howlin,' the rain is pourin,' the lighting is crashin,' and i'm standing in the midst with my arms raised...i'm not really sure how thats possible, but i'm doing it...there are days where i have to force myself to be thankful and to give God the glory...there are days when i want to cry and do absolutely nothing, but i force myself to stay busy, focusing on the blessings God has given us and the love Paul and i share that will never go away, no matter where he is or how long we are apartso a big thank you goes out to everyone who has been prayingseriously, prayer is extremely powerful and somehow i can feel it when people are praying!things have gotten much better, although still extremely difficult...i have a lot of things to praise God for at the moment...a lot has been going on and a lot of good has been coming out of it!here's some things to praise Him for:

my soap company - yes, i make handmade soaps, although very few people know this...however, the "company" has been taking off, and they have been selling left and right...i'll open up more about this later on, but i'm keeping it on the down low for now

the Christian Military Wives online support group i've joined - the women there are amazing, and they have been so helpful, encouraging, and inspiring...i realize that compared to some of the women on there, i have MUCH to be grateful for...but it helps to know that other women out there, who love their husbands like i do, are going through the same thing

a book called Hope for the Homefront - written by a women whose Navy husband has been through over 21 deployments in their marriage...there's a link under the books i'm reading section for it...this book is changing my life ('nough said)

the Angel Tree kids - this year for Christmas i got to go shopping for 13 kids that elderly people at my parents' church are sponsoring...this is something i do every year, but this year especially it has made me very thankful for all God has given me...and talk about shop til you drop, or wrap til you nap!

one word: INTERNET - without this lovely little invention, i wouldn't be able to talk to my DH (Darling Husband in Militarianese) almost every night, or see his face on the webcam either, and that helps a LOT

my trip to Texas - i get to see my Paulie ONE week from today!!! let's just say i am bouncing off the walls...however, i must again ask for prayer as i will have to leave him after 3 1/2 days...saying goodbye and getting on that plane to come home will be the hardest thing i've ever had to do

the family New Year's cruise - as a Christmas gift this year for the whole family (grandma included), my parents are taking all of us on a cruise to the Carribbean...i'm really looking forward to this; however, i am melancholy as well because i won't be with Paul and will have just gotten back from seeing him (and saying goodbye....)

the birth of Christ - i'm extra thankful for this as well this year...without Paul and i having a relationship with God through Christ, i know that we wouldn't be together at all, nor would we be as happy and blessed as we are now...even though people celebrate His birth at Christmas, i am thankful for this gift year round...without Him, i wouldn't know what to do right now

so, what can you praise God for right now? is it possible that you can praise Him no matter what storm you're going through???

Praise You In The Storm by Casting Crowns

I was sure by now, God,that You would have reached down,and wiped our tears away,stepped in and saved the day.But once again, I say amenand it's still rainingas the thunder rollsI barely hear Youwhisper through the rain,"I'm with you"and as Your mercy fallsI raise my handsand praise the Godwho gives and takes away.

And I'll praise you in this stormand I will lift my handsfor You are who You are nomatter where I amand every tear I've criedYou hold in your handYou never left my sideand though my heart is tornI will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the windYou heard my cry to Youand raised me up againmy strength is almost gonehow can I carry onif I can't find Youand as the thunder rollsI barely hear Youwhisper through the rain"I'm with you"and as Your mercy fallsI raise my handsand praise the Godwho gives and takes away

And I'll praise you in this stormand I will lift my handsfor You are who You are nomatter where I amand every tear I've criedYou hold in your handYou never left my sideand though my heart is tornI will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes onto the hillswhere does my help come from?My help comes from the Lord,the maker of heaven and earthI lift my eyes onto the hillswhere does my help come from?My help comes from the Lord,the maker of heaven and earth

3 comments:

Sara, I'm glad you are still praising God for his goodness. When I read your post and saw the lyrics to one of the casting crowns songs, I totally feel over weeping. I'm having such a time right now with my son (teenagers) and those lyrics tore right thru me. The storm I'm in the midst of is killing me, but praise God I know he'll see me through.

Saying "Good bye" to you was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. After all of the training by the military, all of the college, and all of the other trials this life has brought me... that one was by far the hardest...

When you left,... I went to the bathroom, to breakdown and cry.

I watched as your plane left the terminal, then I walked into the parking lot... and watched you until I could no longer see you through the clouds.

I pray that God gives us the strength to carry on strong till the day I return to you, ... through the clouds. ;)

I'm a stay-at-home Mom living in the south with the love of my life DH (darling husband) and beautiful son who has special needs. After completing my Masters in Christian Education and teaching, I am now a coordinator for a foreign exchange student program, future aspiring author, occasional freelance writer, and dreamer of one day being a long-term missionary. I love reading, cooking, learning how to live healthier, and talking about my faith.